peatt



(Model.) 2 Sheets-.Sheet l.. D. R. PRATT.

y Rubber Shoes.

No. 234,?20. Patented Nov. 23,1880.

(Modem asheets-sneet 2.,

D. R. PRATT. Rubber Shoes.

Patent-ed Nov. 23, 1880.

Fig. 5.

NHHIHIHIHHHD UNITED STATES PATENT Orme-n.

DANIEL R. PRATT, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO LUCY A. PRATT, OF SAME PLACE.

RUBBER SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,720, dated November 23, 1880.

Application tiled October 22, 1880.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL R. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iu India- Rubber Shoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention7 such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top view of" an india-rubber shoe embodying my invention, the slit shown as held open by the arms or levers of the fastener, the fastener being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the same on the line .fr w, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the fastener partially wound with strips of cloth or tape to indicate the preferred method of securing the fastener to the shoe in the process of manufacture. 4 and 5 are detached views of the arms or levers ot' the fastener. Fig. 6 is a section on the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a view of a modification of the fastener. Figs. 8 and 9 are detached views of the arms or levers of the modification.

Like letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to improvements in in-v dia-rubber shoes and fasteners therefor, and has for its object the production of an indiarubber shoe having its slit or opening provided with a fastener consisting of pivoted arms or levers, said fastener introduced and secured at tle time of manufacture, so as to be secured by the vulcanization and form, as it were, an integral portion ofthe article.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, no indiarubber shoe has been provided with a pivoted lever-fastener, though like devices have been frequently applied, as wrist fastenings for gloves, and as fasteners for cloth and like gaiters, where the fastening could be secured by sewing or riveting. The. causes which prevented the use of such fasteners for this purpose have been twofoldmrst, the inability to (Model.)

obtain a neat, serviceable, and salable article if the fastening was secured by stitching or riveting the same to the article, as is the practice where like fastenings are commonly used; and, secondly, the lack of adaptability of the pivoted lever-fastening as ordinarily constructed to use in a confined position, as over the instep, where much thickness or wide spring of the parts would cause pressure and annoyance to the wearer of the article.

In carrying out my 4in vention I have had to devise means'for overcoming these two difficulties. The rst I accomplish by applying the pivoted lever-fastening to the shoe prior to vulcanization and securing it thereto by vulcanization, and the second I have accomplished by devising a pivoted lever-fastener wherein the spring of the levers upon each other is away from the foot or outward.

I will now proceed to specifically describe 7o the best method known to me of carrying out my invention, so that others skilled in the art to which itappertains may apply the same; but I do not intend to be understood as limiting myself' thereto.

In the drawings, A indicates the preferred form of pivoted lever-fastener, and B a modification. Each of these fasteners is composed of two arms or levers, a b, of such length as the height of the shoe or length of the slit s 8o demands, and pivoted together, as at c.

In the preferred form (A, Figs. 3, 4, and 5) each arm terminates at the pivotal end in a disk, one of which is indented or notched at one or more points, a', while the otheris slotted, 85 as at b', for the passage of adog or small springpawl, b2, secured to the disk of arm or lever b.

In the modification (B, Figs. 7, 8, and 9) the arm or lever a is the same as before specified; but the end of lever b, near the pivot c, is nar- 9orower and lighter, so as to spring slightly-iu other words, is a spring-flnger-having upon its under surface a rib or lug, c', which will engage Wit-h the notches ct, so that the end of the arm b, Figs. 7, 8, and 9, in fact constitutes the dog or spring-pawl by which the arms are locked apart or together at will.

In applying the pivoted lever-fasteners to the shoe, the arm et is preferably placed downward or next the foot, for this reason, that 10e whatever spring of the levers or separation of the levers vertically, near the pivot, takes place when the same are turned on the pivot will be upward or away from the foot, so that any annoyance due to pressure on the instep of the wearer will be obviated.

Before applying the pivoted lever-fastener to the shoe it is placed in suitable dies, or by other means given a curved shape to cause it to conform to the instep of the last.

I will next proceed to describe what I believe to be the best method of securing` the fastener to the shoe: The netting or lining t having been cut and iitted to the last in any suitable manner, andthe solution ot' indiarubber applied thereto, Inext wrap the levers a I) down to a point near their junction (see Fig. 3) with strips of cloth, tape, paper, or any common fabric, to, which has been previously coated or saturated with a solution of rubber, and thenlay the fastener thus wrapped and closed upon the instep of the last on a line corresponding` to the desired slit in the shoe, interposing between the net or lining l and the pivoted portion or disks of the fastener one or more annular disks, d, of cloth,

felt, or equivalent material, which may or may not be coated with a solution of india-rubber.

These disks d are preferably provided with a central hole to accommodate the rivet-head of the pivoted levers a b. The sheet of rubber is then cut to form and applied in the usual manner, but so as to inclose the fastener between it and the lining, and after having the ornamental nish formed thereon the shoe is vulcanized.

When the shoe has been vulcanized the slit is made between the arms or levers a b, and the arms or levers will be found to be held firmly between the lining and rubber and by the rubber, and the shoe will have a neat and finished appearance.

The function of the interposed disks l and the wrapping w is to prevent the displacement of the pivoted lever-fastener; but the disks d have also additional functions-wiz., to preserve the smooth uniform condition of the lining or interior of the shoe, to prevent undue wear upon the lining and pressure upon the instep. As the rubber will not adhere'to the unwrapped pivotal portion of the fastener, a pocket, p, is form ed, which facilitates the movement of the joint or opening and closing of the levers, which latter, owing to the notches and pawl, may be locked open orclosed at will.

If after manufacture the curve of the fastlener does not correspond to the instep of the wearer it can be readily changed to suit by the use of the ordinary pliers.

Wherever in the foregoing specification or in the following claims I have employed the words india-rubber I mean thereby t0 include any substance or compound capable of being` worked and vulcanized in like manner as india-rubber.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. As an improved article of manufacture, an india-rubber shoe having at its slit a pivoted lever-fastener secured thereto by the vnlcanized rubber, substantially as specified.

2. In the manufacture ot' india-rubber shoes whereinla pivoted lever-fastener is employed, the method herein described of securing the fastener, the same consisting in wrapping the rfastener with a fabric coated or saturated with a solution of india-rubber and vulcanizingthe same, so as to cause it to unite with the rubber of the shoe, substantially as specified.

3. In a rubber shoe having a pivoted leven fastener, one or more disks or lifts interposed between the pivoted ends of the fastener and the lining, and combined therewith, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature vin presence ot' two witnesses.

DANIEL R. PRATT. Vitnesses:

FRANK THoMAsoN,

F. W. RITTER, Jr. 

